Team Illinois got the Junior Future Games started with a 7-6 win in dramatic fashion with a walkoff single against Massachusetts in a five inning affair.

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The Team Illinois bats were quiet at the start of the game, taking a 2-0 deficit after the first inning. RHP Braden Murray (Cary-Grove, 2030) settled in nicely after the first inning, finishing his start with three innings pitched, allowed two runs on three hits, four walks, and struck out two. Murray worked a three-pitch mix with a fastball playing at 73-79 mph, a tight spinning slider at 67-69 mph, and a fading changeup at 69-74 mph. Murray worked out of a couple jams throughout his three innings of work and held Massachusetts to just two runs.

After being held scoreless after two innings, the offense got started in the bottom of the third with a leadoff walk by OF Griffin Cunningham (Brother Rice, 2030), followed up by another walk by 1B Jaden Payton (St. Viator, 2030). Braden Murray stepped up to the plate and lined an RBI single to left, giving Team Illinois their first run of the contest.

The bats rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning for Team Illinois, scoring five runs to take a demanding 6-2 lead, heading into the last inning. C Ahmi Hale (Glenwood, 2030) led off the inning with a liner drive deep over the head of the left fielder, hitting the top of the wall for a double. UTIL Aidan Hannion (St. Laurence, 2030) did a job, driving in Hale with an RBI groundout to second, knotting up the ballgame at two. After back-to-back walks by INF Christopher Morrison (Providence Catholic, 2030) and OF Caden Busch (Joliet Catholic, 2030), INF Liam Gilley (Providence Catholic, 2030) drove in a run with a fielder's choice to center. UTIL Brocktyn Roberts (Armstrong, 2030) worked a walk and OF Colton Stillwell (Benet Academy, 2030) ripped a triple to left-center, driving in Roberts, later coming in to score on a wild pitch.

With the final three outs of the game in front of Team Illinois, Payton started the inning by roping a triple to left-center, giving Illinois a great chance to walk-off the ballgame. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Ozment stepped up to the plate and ripped an walkoff single to right, giving Illinois the 7-6 win.

Team Illinois takes on Team Georgia at 8:00 AM tomorrow on field 16 at LakePoint in Emerson, GA.

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